Ryan Jones formerly of the Leeds academy who was at Warrington this year, just signed for Doncaster permanently.

Billy Slater's Melbourne debut was on the wing, as was his Queensland debut.

How many games has Billy Slater played on the wing for Melbourne or Queensland?

Slater has been a specialist FB his whole professional career - he was the FB in the junior Melbourne set up but like a lot of backs they are put out on the wing to give them a softer introduction to the first team. but you knew that.

Billy Slater Wing
Jarryd Hayne wing
GI centre
Dugan centre
JT 14 role
Smith Halfback
Cronk anywhere but halfback in the accademy
Foran ditto

So pretty much all the best players in the world started in different positions either as they broke into the team or as academy players, but walker only wants to play one

Most of these players would have played one position as a junior - was Kallum Watkins ever considered as anything but a centre? Did Danny McGuire ever play anywhere in either his junior days or senior years other than half back etc etc.

Well according to Jack it was a "fantastic" deal

"The offer I’ve received from the club is fantastic but it doesn’t come down to money, it’s the opportunity to play at fullback, a position I feel brings the best out in me"

That's not really the point Sal. Of course all players have favourite positions but one of these other players you mention were demanding to play in just one position. He has said it is not about money and seems to want a guarantee to play at fullback only which has got to be unacceptable to the club. It also shows the player has not got the desire to work hard to demand the jersey by his performances on the field week in week out. I think he has the skills to make a 6 which is the most influential position but he appears to lack the faith in his ability to develop which is sad.

It is exactly the point - maybe he doesn't want to be a jack of all trades - maybe he has seen his niche and he is determined to go for it.

He hasn't demand a first team place just he wants to be the best FB he can be - that doesn't work for Leeds so its best both parties go their separate ways. There is no way McDermott will allow a youngster to suggest such a thing so its in the player's best interest to move on.

What seems to peeve people on here is that Walker is prepared not to be subservient to the club and just accept what the club is offering. If they club really wanted him why did they make a second offer why didn't they make the higher offer straight off - bad business.

The sport needs superstars and he will be a superstar - good look to him I genuinely hope everything works out for him. Pity more on here cannot see the bigger picture

You really think it's bad business not to go in with your best offer straight away? I don't think you do

Just remembered who he reminds me of, it's a Young Henry Paul. He started out as a fullback I think, but made a bloody good fist of playing at Stand Off, I wonder if Jack will finish up treading the same path?

He might be a superstar but it's far from a gimme especially depending on where he ends up.

As for jack of all trades, there's no guarantee Leeds would've done that with him, they may well have ended up deciding that he should stay at FB but what they aren't prepared to do is make him promises that can't be guaranteed so at least we've been honest with him. The easy option Leeds could've done is promise him he'd only be picked at FB to get him to sign but they haven't taken the easy option so credit to them. Other clubs might be prepared to promise him FB, whether they stick to their promise is another thing. Would be very disappointing after all this to see him picked on the wing at Warrington because he can't displace Ratchford wouldn't it?

You say "there's no way McDermott would allow such a thing".......does Tony Smith strike anybody as the type to have a 17 year old say he wants to play one position only? If he's agreed to that he's only telling the kid what he wants to hear because the real Tony Smith would've had the same response as Leeds did to that request.

He is starting at full back tonight. A very young / inexperienced team...

Actually Watkins played a lot of fullback at junior level. And my point is that the majority of the best players in the world play a different position to the one they played as a junior or the position they played early in their career.

At Jack Walkers age Cameron Smith would have never played a single game at hooker and Cronk and Foran would have never played a single game in the halves, but when their coaches told them they had potential to be great in a different position they listened and benefited, unlike Walker who seems to want to ignore the advice of the coaches and senior players.

He also played centre before he became the fullback.

My point was that pretty much all players these days can play more than one position to a high standard, especially fullbacks.
Inglis and Hayne play pretty much anywhere in the back line and halves, Tedesco or Gagai play anywhere in the back line, Boyd has played SoO and international on the wing, Lockyer, Moylan, Tomkins played Stand off before moving back (and in Lockyer's case forward again) Dugan would tell you he is a full back but is an SoO centre,

A very mature and professional performance from Walker so far.

Agree, and can still see him being in a Leeds jersey next year.

It is an interesting debate surrounding young Jack Walker that's for sure.

On the surface it sounds like our very own Curtis Naughton. The only difference being that Walker hasn't demanded the 1 shirt or even to be the starting FB. Naughton wanted to be the number 1 ahead of Brett Kearney. However same result, Naughton left and so will Walker.

I do think his agent will have turned his head a little, however the player also has a right to say how he wants to play. If he sees himself as a fullback and wants that specialist fullback training then I can't see why Leeds wouldn't do their best and provide that for him. Has he played anywhere but Fullback so far for the first team? If so then surely Leeds see him as a fullback too which makes their decision more puzzling.

I can't comment for everybody but players sometimes enjoy their role. Me, for example, will play anywhere. However if I get asked to play halfback I will likely say I'll do it but it wouldn't be best for the team as I am dog dirt, I am however a good hooker. So changing my position would weaken the team, maybe that's Walker's way of thinking. Who knows.

In reality, we can all speculate but non of us really know what's going on in his head to leave, and we probably won't know 100% of the details. I hope he does stay and become your fullback for years to come though as I am a huge fan of academy products playing first team rugby with their parent club.

This list could be considerably extended. Has this been pointed out to Walker in black and white? He's clearly young, naive and a bit daft to think his request to only be considered for selection at full back is ok.

Great to hear Sutcliffe say he'll play any position for Leeds.
Why wouldn't you???
He'll go far with such attitude.

When you are a pretty average player you don't have much choice - if you have real talent you have a lot more leverage. Walker is class - Sutcliffe is an average SL player

He's talking about Alex Sutcliffe.

My mistake

I'll be a bit more controversial too....I don't really rate Walker... Yet!
He's looked good in a few games, but I've seen many 17 year olds to the same and never improve
I'm a fan of Golding....and maybe one day Walker too...but for now, I'm still not convinced

The club is in a good place.

League express reporting that Walker could still stay at Leeds for next season.

Thats a difficult position for Leeds. Its not really something i would be hugely in favour of.

It would be better for Leeds in the short-term to have a player who is already there than to have to have one who has the potential to get there. The pay-off in blooding players who are young comes 2 or 3 years down the line. A short-term deal for Walker would see leeds blooding a player with no commitment that they ever see the pay-off from them.